Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015
Sponsored By: Representative Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
Unknown
Summary
Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 This bill amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to allow a representative official of an Indian tribe, with authorization from the governing body of the tribe, to request one or more polling places to be located on tribal lands. The state or political subdivision shall provide each requested polling place at no expense to the Indian tribe if certain criteria are met. A federal court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce constitutional voting guarantees, but also certain violations of the Act as well as of any federal prohibition against discrimination on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, for an appropriate period to prevent commencement of new devices to deny or abridge the right to vote. Requirements are revised for determining which states and political subdivisions are or are not covered by criteria for declaratory judgments that they have not used devices to deny or abridge the right to vote. Any state (and all of its political subdivisions) shall be subject to such requirements for a 10-year period if: 15 or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years; or 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least one of which was committed by the state itself (as opposed to a political subdivision within it). Any specific political subdivision of a state shall also be subject to those requirements for a 10-year period if 3 or more violations occurred in it during the previous 25 calendar years. A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a device to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from such requirements unless new violations occur after the declaratory judgment was issued. Each state and each political subdivision shall: (1) identify any newly enacted or adopted law, regulation, or policy that includes a voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or a voting-related standard, practice, or procedure (covered practice); and (2) ensure that no such covered practice is implemented unless or until the state or political subdivision complies with certain preclearance requirements. This bill prescribes transparency requirements, including reasonable public notice, regarding any changes to: (1) voting prerequisites, standards, or procedures; (2) polling place resources; or (3) demographics and electoral districts. Department of Justice authority to assign observers receives new extensions, including authority to assign observers to enforce bilingual election requirements. Courts shall grant preliminary injunctive relief if a complainant raises a serious question whether the challenged covered practice violates the Act or the Constitution and, on balance, the hardship imposed upon the defendant by the relief will be less than the hardship on the plaintiff if the relief were not granted.
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Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
ALCEE HASTINGS
FL • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1]
NC • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/7/2015
Rep. Takai, Mark [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 7/7/2015
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 7/7/2015
Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/7/2015
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/7/2015
Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/7/2015
SANDER LEVIN
MI • D
Sponsored 7/7/2015
Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 7/8/2015
JOSE SERRANO
NY • D
Sponsored 7/8/2015
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/8/2015
Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-1]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/10/2015
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2015
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/16/2015
ELIOT ENGEL
NY • D
Sponsored 7/16/2015
Rep. Murphy, Patrick [D-FL-18]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/16/2015
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/16/2015
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/16/2015
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/16/2015
Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/29/2015
Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/29/2015
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 9/8/2015
ELIJAH CUMMINGS
MD • D
Sponsored 9/8/2015
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 9/8/2015
LOUISE SLAUGHTER
NY • D
Sponsored 9/8/2015
PETER DEFAZIO
OR • D
Sponsored 9/8/2015
JAMES LANGEVIN
RI • D
Sponsored 9/8/2015
CAROLYN MALONEY
NY • D
Sponsored 9/8/2015
Rep. Delaney, John K. [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 9/8/2015
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 9/8/2015
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 9/16/2015
EDDIE JOHNSON
TX • D
Sponsored 9/16/2015
Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
MA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2015
JOSEPH CROWLEY
NY • D
Sponsored 9/17/2015
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2015
Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/18/2015
RUBEN HINOJOSA
TX • D
Sponsored 9/18/2015
NITA LOWEY
NY • D
Sponsored 9/18/2015
LUIS GUTIERREZ
IL • D
Sponsored 9/29/2015
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2015
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2015
JOHN LEWIS
GA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2015
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/24/2015
Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
ROBERT BRADY
PA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6]
SC • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Pelosi
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
MICHAEL HONDA
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
OH • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Edwards, Donna F. [D-MD-4]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
JOHN CONYERS
MI • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
DAVID PRICE
NC • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
CHAKA FATTAH
PA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
GENE GREEN
TX • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
RICHARD NOLAN
MN • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Carney, John C., Jr. [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Tsongas, Niki [D-MA-3]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
RON KIND
WI • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Hoyer
MD • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Hahn, Janice [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
VI • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
STEVE ISRAEL
NY • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/25/2015
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 11/3/2015
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/29/2015
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/7/2015
Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1]
MN • D
Sponsored 10/7/2015
PETER VISCLOSKY
IN • D
Sponsored 10/7/2015
Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/20/2015
Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/20/2015
XAVIER BECERRA
CA • D
Sponsored 10/26/2015
Rep. Heck, Denny [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 10/26/2015
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 10/26/2015
Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3]
MD • D
Sponsored 10/26/2015
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 10/26/2015
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [D-GA-2]
GA • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
CORRINE BROWN
FL • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
WM. CLAY
MO • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
Rep. Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
BOBBY RUSH
IL • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
CHARLES RANGEL
NY • D
Sponsored 11/2/2015
LORETTA SANCHEZ
CA • D
Sponsored 11/3/2015
SUSAN DAVIS
CA • D
Sponsored 11/3/2015
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/3/2015
Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-16]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]
GA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
SAM FARR
CA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
LOIS CAPPS
CA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/16/2015
Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/30/2015
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 11/30/2015
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/30/2015
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/30/2015
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/30/2015
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/23/2016
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
JIM MCDERMOTT
WA • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
MICHAEL CAPUANO
MA • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
MIKE DOYLE
PA • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
Rep. Esty, Elizabeth H. [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/12/2016
Rep. Grayson, Alan [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/10/2016
TIM RYAN
OH • D
Sponsored 5/10/2016
Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2]
IA • D
Sponsored 5/10/2016
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/9/2016
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2016
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2016
Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/16/2016
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/16/2016
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/16/2016
Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/22/2016
Rep. Graham, Gwen [D-FL-2]
FL • D
Sponsored 11/14/2016
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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